WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World powers will hold talks on
Tuesday over finalizing the text of a third U.N. sanctions
resolution against Iran which could be voted on in the coming
weeks, said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday.

Speaking at a women's foreign policy forum in Washington,
Rice said political directors from the United States, France,
Britain, Germany, Russia and China would hold a conference call
on Tuesday to discuss Iran.

"They are working on finalizing the Security Council
resolution -- the text of one -- that will then be sent to the
Security Council to be voted sometime in the next several
weeks," said Rice.

Tuesday's conference call follows a U.S. intelligence
estimate last week which said Iran had given up its nuclear
weapons program in 2003, an announcement that dampened
enthusiasm among skeptics Russia and China for more sanctions
against Tehran.

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Asked whether she thought Russia and China would support
new sanctions, Rice said "most" states supported the U.S. move
for greater pressure on Iran.

"I have found that most states have found that we have the
right strategy and the key is still to get Iran to stop its
enrichment and reprocessing so that we can begin negotiations
to meet the legitimate need for civilian nuclear power."

She repeated an offer by the United States last year to
meet her Iranian counterpart if Tehran suspended sensitive
nuclear work that the West believes is aimed at building an
atomic bomb.

Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian power
purposes.

"If Iran will cease its enrichment -- suspend its
enrichment and reprocessing activities -- I am prepared to meet
my counterpart anywhere, any time, any place to talk about
whatever is on his mind," said Rice.